Former Los Angeles Lakers draft pick Larry Nance Jr. is one of the few people that gets to say he played alongside both Kobe Bryant and LeBron James in his NBA career.
Nance’s rookie season was Bryant’s final season, so he saw what the Black Mamba was about. Despite the veteran being in his 20th season, his character and determination to win remained unchanged and he tried to instill that in the young players like Nance.
Then when the Ohio native was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018, Nance was a teammate of James’ and made it all the way to the NBA Finals before the latter chose to come to L.A.
Now 10 seasons into his NBA career, Nance has seen a lot of what this league has to offer. Not many players can say they played with two legends, so Nance talked about the difference in Bryant and James’ leadership styles, via the “Ball in the Family” podcast with Lonzo & Gelo Ball:
“I would say in just how they led their locker rooms, right? Kobe was more so like a force when he walked in. When he walked in, you felt that he was there. Like my shoes need to be tied, let me get my locker clean, I can’t be the one that gets signaled out today. He ran a tight ship, which obviously worked to the tune of five rings. But, Bron is more so one of the guys. He’s a big kid, which endears you to him even more.”
When it came to basketball, Bryant had a competitive mindset like Michael Jordan’s and he very rarely let his demeanor change. James, on the other hand, likes to enjoy himself a little more while playing the game he loves.
In today’s NBA, leaders approach things differently. Building chemistry is vital over an 82-game season, so maintaining a balance of having fun while taking games seriously is important.
For James, he knows when it is time to get serious or when he needs to put the extra circulars aside. Ultimately, no star or all-time great will share the same leadership qualities, but Bryant and James found success in their own respective ways.
LeBron James focused on winning regardless of role
With little time left in his career, LeBron James knows there are few remaining chances left to win a fifth title. Now a couple of games into his 23rd season, James said he is focused on winning regardless of his role with the Lakers.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
